Academy's Nuphaus called into U-14 U.S. Boys' National Team camp

CHICAGO (May 13, 2014) – Twenty-two players have been called up by Brian Johnson who will oversee the U.S. Under-14 Boys’ National Team training camp that will take place in Zagreb, Croatia from May 15-25.

The camp will include matches against Croatia on May 19 and 21, Slovenia on May 22 and a to-be-determined opponent on May 24 and offer 20 of the 22 players their first taste of international travel with the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team program. It is the fourth camp of the current cycle, which began last September.

The two players who have previously traveled with the U.S. are Georgia United product Christopher Goslin and Barcelona pupil Ben Lederman, both of whom participated in February’s Under-15 Boys’ National Team training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Additionally, Lederman was previously included in a U-14 BNT overseas training camp that took place in Zagreb at this same time last year.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, this will be the first Youth National Team camp for Michael Edwards of Prince William Courage and only the second for Ayo Akinola of Toronto FC, Jean Julien Foe Nuphaus of San Jose Earthquakes and Bryan Perez of Los Angeles Futbol Academy. Edwards and Lederman are the only players on the current roster who did not participate in the U-14 BNT’s last camp at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California this past March.

Eighteen players on the squad are currently registered with U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams, and the LA Galaxy lead the way among Academy clubs represented with three players: Zico Bailey, Jacob Muchnick and Tristan Weber.

The U.S. U-14 BNT serves as a development and identification program for potential future National Team players. The U-14s will next gather in August for a domestic training camp to continue learning the culture and style of play consistent throughout all U.S. National Teams.